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As he has been known to do, William Shatner has irked the LGBT community after observing that some people use labels as means to bully others.
“Some need labels and categories to separate people in order to harass or debase them,” he tweeted on Saturday. “The only time CIS is used when referring to me is in that way. 🤷🏼♂️ Do we need these labels in order to communicate? No. So those that use them when describing others are doing it for neg reasons.”
Some need labels and categories to separate people in order to harass or debase them. The only time CIS is used when referring to me is in that way. 🤷🏼♂️ Do we need these labels in order to communicate? No. So those that use them when describing others are doing it for neg reasons. https://t.co/rsPGkvHE7N
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 3, 2020
The tweet set off a lot of reactions from the alphabet people, who found their panties in a collective wad.
And, on quite a few occasions, the man who played Captain Kirk in the popular Star Trek television show responded to his tormentors.
One such example was when a social media user fell back on Dr. Suess to justify the use of cis and transgender labels, citing Star-Bellied Sneetches.
That proved to be a galaxy too far away for Shatner, who answered: “How wonderful that Dr. Suess did that. I, however am not a Sneetsch [sic] so please don’t put a label on me to define yourself. Is that not clear enough to people?🤷🏼♂️”
How wonderful that Dr. Suess did that. I l, however am not a Sneetsch so please don’t put a label on me to define yourself. Is that not clear enough to people?🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/R63OZcIHhT
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 8, 2020
In a further exchange with the individual, the actor explained that he was “beat up as a kid for being a Jew,” noting that this happened in a Catholic section in Montreal, Canada.
“I had distant relatives who died under the Nazis,” Shatner said. “I hope you can understand that I feel ‘distinctions’ are labels & labels are dehumanizing. Am I clear?”
Being Jewish in a Catholic section in Montreal, Canada; I was beat up as a kid for being a Jew. I had distant relatives who died under the Nazi’s. I hope you can understand that I feel “distinctions” are labels & labels are dehumanizing. 🤷🏼♂️ Am I clear? https://t.co/PGEGhHVrPM
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 8, 2020
Not that some of the alphabet people weren’t honest about their actions, with one individual more or less confirming his original thought.
In stating that cis people – aka normal folks — aren’t oppressed, the person informed Shatner that “until cis people stop dehumanizing trans and non-binary people you don’t really get to determine what words we use to talk about our struggles.”
Setting his laser on high, Shatner fired back at the social justice warrior with a stunning level of plain ol’ common sense.
“Who are you to tell a person that you can use words of debasement against them because some unknown ‘others’ use debasing words towards you?” he replied. “That has to be one of the most ignorant & childish statements I’ve seen. Grow up & accept that you are contributing to your own issues.”
Who are you to tell a person that you can use words of debasement against them because some unknown “others” use debasing words towards you? That has to be one of the most ignorant & childish statements I’ve seen. Grow up & accept that you are contributing to your own issues.🙄 https://t.co/AOLaC9CKos
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 8, 2020
But Shatner was an equal opportunity slayer, as he responded to others in much the same way, ready for whatever scenario they put forth.
It was as if he was still at the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise — this may be a good time to inform readers that the actor is 89-years-old.
It’s somewhat hard following all the exchanges, as Shatner’s Twitter feed is a busy place, but it is more than refreshing to see some boldly go where few are willing to go today, that being to openly share their opinion.
How about infant females put to death in cultures where males are preferred, LGB teens who come out to unaccepting parents and are tossed out on the street or beat up or worse, etc…? All of them are presumed to be under your label of “cisgendered” https://t.co/LUZ6WAsa6g
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 8, 2020
Amazing how I’m the bully when she responded to me. Also why bring up skin color or the fact she is trans? Does that make her different or are their different rules of engagement to respond to her? Seems like all you are doing is trying to put a victim label on a bully.🤷🏼♂️ https://t.co/MQDhs2fDMZ
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 8, 2020
Why are you weighing in on my tweets when it’s clear you don’t have clue what the argument is about and you jump to a conclusion & start a dogpile? https://t.co/xXO4xlgqDW
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 8, 2020
Shatner summed up his engagement in a tweet that made it clear that his opinion was not the result of a political agenda — imagine that.
Good because I don’t have one https://t.co/pPHmeQpwXb
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 9, 2020
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